Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 533987

Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio appalachiensis

Observation date: May 22, 2011
Submitted by: Don Holt
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: None.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: June 04, 2011
Coordinator notes: Based on the size of this Papilio in comparison with the size of nearby individuals of B. philenor and based on the size (smallish) and separation (widely separated versus less widely separated in P. glaucus) of the yellow spots along the trailing edge of the dorsal forewing, an identification of P. appalachiensis seems most plausible. However, I remain somewhat hesitant about this identification because direct comparison with P. glaucus was not made in the photographs and because current field guides lack much detail about the field marks of P. appalachiensis (although some online sources are very good on this matter).
Checklist region(s): Washington County, Tennessee, United States